For K-12 Teachers

For the Love of Gaia: Art and Environmentalism

For the Love of Gaia: Art and Environmentalism is a flexible unit plan for teachers developed in collaboration with Lincoln Public Schools. The unit explores interconnections between art and the artist’s relationship with global issues such as environmentalism and climate change, and offers opportunities for examinations of art and science topics as well as research into current events. 

Grades 4-12, Visual Arts, Social Studies, Science 

This unit can be used to support Nebraska Standards for Fine Arts, Social Studies and Science.

Click here to access this unit plan.

At-Home Lessons

What is a Quilt? 

In this lesson, students will watch a video and complete a short activity exploring what makes a quilt a quilt and common styles of quilts, and identifying quilts and quilted fabrics in their own lives.

Grades K-4, Visual Arts 

This unit can be used to support Nebraska Standards for Fine Arts.

Click here to access this lesson.

Be a Curator

In this lesson, students will explore what it means to be a curator through a short video and reading about Rumi O’Brien’s story quilts before curating their own home exhibition.
Grades K-4, Visual Arts 

This unit can be used to support Nebraska Standards for Fine Arts and Language Arts.

Click here to access the lesson.

How do Quilts Get Their Names?

In this unit, students will explore the IQM archives using the website’s search function to identify common traditional quilt block patterns. They will also be encouraged to recreate their favorite, or design their own quilt block.
Grades 2-8, Visual Arts 

This unit can be used to support Nebraska Standards for Fine Arts.

Click here to access this lesson.

For questions about these materials, or inquiries into other lesson topics, please email Education Coordinator Lauren Holt at [email protected].

ReadWorks

The International Quilt Museum partnered with ReadWorks to create a series of quilt and history-focused reading lessons for Grades 2-6. You will need a free ReadWorks account to access the articles; the materials are presented in both text and audio formats. 

Modules include:

• What is a Quilt?/Quilt Basics (Grade2)
• Kinds and Uses of Quilts (Grade 3)
• Quilts in America (Grade 4)
• Quilts in Central Asia (Grade 4)
• Technology and Quilts (Grade 5)
• Quilting and Social Issues (Grade 6)

Exhibition-Based Activities

These activities were created to accompany some of the International Quilt Museum’s exhibitions. The virtual version of the exhibitions can still be accessed on our website for pictures of the quilts, context and further investigation.

Design Dynamics of Log Cabin Quilts
Coloring Sheet (all ages)
View the exhibition

Dualities: Emiko Toda Loeb
Coloring Book (all ages) 
View the exhibition

The Whole Story 
Coloring Book (ages 8+)
Connect the Dots Worksheet (ages 7+)
View the virtual exhibition 

Eiko Okano’s Delectable World
Coloring Sheet
View the exhibition 

Old World Quilts
Coloring Sheet (all ages)
View the exhibition 

Jean Ray Laury: Getting It All Together
"Magenta Forest" Coloring Sheet (all ages)
View the exhibition

Block by Block: American Quilts in the Industrial Age
"My Sweet Sister Emma" Coloring Sheet (all ages)
View the exhibition 

General Activities

My Quilt of Me Coloring Sheet (all ages)

Quilt Block Pattern Word Search (ages 9+)

"White Bison Star Quilt" by Lulu Red Cloud Coloring Sheet (all ages) View the quilt

What in the World do These Quilts Have in Common?

Curator of International Collections Marin Hanson presents five videos comparing quilts from the International Quilt Museum's growing international collection. Video length ranges from 2-4 minutes and the quilts in each video come from India, Russia, China, France, Central Asia, Japan and the United States.

Grades 6-12, Social Studies, Visual Arts 

This unit can be used to support Nebraska Standards FA 8.2.3, FA 8.2.4, SS 7.3.4, SS 6.4.4, SS 7.4.4 and SS 8.4.4

Click here to access these lessons.

Three Things About a World Quilt 

Curator of International Collections Marin Hanson presents seven videos examining design elements of pieces from the International Quilt Museum's growing international collection. Video length ranges from 8-24 minutes and topics explore historic and cultural influences on quilts from Central Asia, Pakistan, Japan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, China, Russia and the United States.

Grades 9-12, Social Studies, Visual Arts 

This unit can be used to support Nebraska Standard FA 12.2.3.a

Click here to access these lessons.

Every First Friday, a short presentation and activity aimed at student audiences will be available before the main First Friday program.

Art and the Love of a Place 

Examine quilts that display the artist’s love of a place and share your own favorite place with friends and family through a short activity.

Grades K-12, Visual Arts This unit can be used to support Nebraska Standards FA 2.2.1, FA 5.2.3 

Watch the video
This activity requires art materials of your choice

Quilts, War and Veterans 

Explore a selection of quilts created in response to war, sewn by soldiers and civilians alike.

Grades 4-12, Visual Arts, Social Studies 

This unit can be used to support Nebraska Standards FA 5.2.1, FA 5.2.3, FA 5.2.4, FA 8.2.4 

Watch the video
Activity materials: Andrew Lee Quilts of Valor Connect the Dots, Madison Township Quilt Coloring Sheet

Technology and Trade 

Examine the influence of trade and technology on artistic trends in this presentation of selected quilts dated across 200 years of technological change.

Grades 4-12, Visual Arts, Social Studies 

This unit can be used to support Nebraska Standards FA 5.2.1, FA 5.2.3, FA 5.2.4, FA 8.2.3, FA 8.2.4, FA 12.2.3.a; SS 5.2.6 

Watch the video
Activity materials: Album Quilt Coloring Sheet

Tributes and Protest Quilts: Women's History

Watch the Video
Activity Materials: Quilt Block

For making these programs possible, we would like to thank the Mark and Diann Sorensen IQM Education and Outreach Fund, and give special recognition to the Cooper Foundation, the Mary Ann Beavers Education Support Fund and the Mary Ann Beavers Fund for Public Programming & Outreach for their dedication and stalwart support of the International Quilt Museum’s education programs.